Martin's career-high 43 leads Tigers past Tulane

Wednesday, February 20

Memphis, Tenn.

6 PM

University of Memphis

102

Tulane

Memphis

102

Jeremiah Martin scored a career-high 43 points, his second 40-point game this season.

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Feb 20, 2019 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Boxscore (UM 102, TLN 76)Memphis Season Statistics (Overall)Memphis Season Statistics (Conference Only)

Men's basketball overpowers Green Wave with 55-point second half

By: Phil Stukenborg

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis guard Jeremiah Martin scored a career-high 43 points to continue a remarkable late-season run and led the Tigers to a 102-76 American Athletic Conference victory over Tulane Wednesday night at FedExForum.

Martin, who earlier this season scored 41 at USF, became the first UofM player -- and first in American history -- to score 40 or more points twice in a career. In the second half, he had 26 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals to help the Tigers (16-11, 8-6 The American) pull away from the Green Wave (4-21, 0-13 The American). The 43 points also represented a conference record.

"I'm thankful to have him here," Tigers coach Penny Hardaway said of his senior point guard. "I need him one more year."

Martin has been on a torrid late-season tear. He is averaging 29.6 points over his last six games, a stretch that began when he scored 41 – all in the second half – during a loss at Tampa. When Martin came off the court Wednesday to a standing ovation with two minutes left, Hardaway had some words of praise.

"I just told him way to take care of business," Hardaway said. "When he got to about 28 points with 14 or 15 minutes left, I said `Get to 40 . . . get to 40.' And when he got to 40 I wasn't taking him out until he broke his career high."

Hardaway said Martin deserved the opportunity to do something historic and that he wasn't trying to disrespect Tulane.

"It was all about rewarding Jeremiah for what he's done here for four years," Hardaway said.

Martin made a career-high 15 field goals in a career-high 24 attempts. He also had eight assists (only one turnover) and added seven rebounds and five steals.

"Coach just told me to keep playing hard," Martin said. "He kept me in the game until I got it. And I've got to (give a) shout out to my teammates. I think they wanted me to get it more than I did. "

Martin said his teammates encouraged him to go for a personal record even when Martin was getting exhausted. Martin's 43 points were five shy of the school record set by Larry Finch in the early 1970s.

Assisting Martin Wednesday were Tyler Harris (16 points, 4 assists), Raynere Thornton (14 points, 9 rebounds), Kareem Brewton (13 points, 9 rebounds) and Kyvon Davenport (10 points, 15 rebounds). The Tigers outrebounded the Green Wave, 56-35, and shot 48.1 percent.

With Martin's assistance, the Tigers opened the second half as if they were intent on putting some distance between Tulane and an upset. The UofM scored 17 straight to open the half, nine coming from Martin. When Davenport drove the baseline for a dunk to cap the run, the Tigers held a commanding 26-point lead (64-38).

During the 17-0 run, Martin had two assists.

After the strong start to the second half, the Tigers never were threatened. They eventually built leads of 30 or more points later in the half.

In the first half, the Tigers appeared as if they would put the game out of reach. Memphis led by 18 (47-29) with two minutes remaining, but the Green Wave finished the half on a 9-0 run. Tulane scored its nine points in 75 seconds to trim the Memphis lead to 47-38.

The Tigers shot 46.3 percent in the opening half and were led by Martin, who had 17 points. Harris had 11 at the half.

Caleb Daniels led Tulane with 25 points. Moses Wood scored 17, 15 in the first half.

The Tigers return to the American Athletic Conference road by traveling to Wichita State Saturday.

NOTABLES

Memphis guard Jeremiah Martin had the sixth 30-point game of his career, most of any Tiger player in the 21^st century. It was his fourth of the season.
Tiger forward Kyvon Davenport's 15 rebounds tied his career high.
Memphis improved to 8-0 when five players score in double figures. The 56 team rebounds for the Tigers were a season-high.
Memphis improved its record to 31-3 against Tulane since the turn of the century.
The Tigers wore throwback `Memphis State' jerseys for the second time this season. They are 2-0 in the uniform.
Tulane's last win came Dec. 17 at home against Texas Southern. The Green Wave lost its 15^th straight game Wednesday night.
Memphis scored 100 or more points for the second time this season. The Tigers beat Yale, 109-102, in double overtime Nov. 17 at FedExForum.